Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 16:34:36 -0800
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@JPS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@JPS.NET>
Subject: Re: oil additives (synthetic oils)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
For what ever it's worth, I used to use synthetic and change oil and filter
every 5,000 miles just to be extra good. But I talked to my mechanic and he
said no matter what oil you use you should change the filter every 3,000
miles even if you leave the oil in longer.
So he recommended using Kental GT-1 20-50 (unless very cold climate/winter,
then Kendal Super-D 15-40). I really don't know. But this mechanic (George)
is really good and he drives a Vanagon Syncro.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
Lake Tahoe
----------
> From: YauMan Chan <YauMan@CCHEM.BERKELEY.EDU>
> To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: oil additives (synthetic oils)
> Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 2:01 PM
>
> I abolutely agree. I have been using Mobil One since it was first
available commercially. My Vanagon has not seen any other oil after the
first 10k miles (she's now has 135K miles, orignal engine, orginal head -
no leaks.) I use synthetics on all my cars. Change oil every 10K-12K
whenever I remember or get around to it.. and change filters every 5K.
Save the pain and pollution of changing oil every 3K miles. Synthetics here
in the SF bay area cost about $4 per quart vs the $0.99 per quart for the
regular stuff. .. so you have decide if this difference in price is worth
it. imho, it is.. definitely.
>
> My understandings is that currently , all synethics are pretty much the
same for normal use. So unless you are putting it in a race car or a long
haul truck, it's a matter of brand loyaty which one you use. .. That is not
true with natural oil as the origin of the base oil determines the
characteristics. ie. Quaker and other that use paraffin crude from
Pennslyvania and the eastern oil fields has more wax then the mid-continent
fields which has better pour point .. (or is it the other way around!)
>
> Also, it use to be that you are not suppose to use synethics until the
engine is broken in. This is because synthetics do not have the same seal
swelling properties as natural paraffin base oil which helps to set the
seal in for new engines. I don't know if that is still true.. one the safe
side, I would not use synethics in a new car until after 10K miles or so.
>
> another of my $0.02 worth.
>
> Yau-Man Chan
> 87 GL
>
>
>
> >>> <KENWILFY@AOL.COM> 11/18 12:59 PM >>>
> <clipped>Also I have heard that if you change just your filter every 6k
miles and just add the quart of oil that comes out with the filter, that
you can extend your oil
> change durations from 6k miles to 10k miles or more (but I would ask your
mech
> his opinion about this first) because the synthetic oil just doesn't
break
> down like normal oil. I have heard these great things about Mobil One. I
haven't researched any of the others so I have no idea if there is a
quality difference or not.
> Ken Wilford
> Van-Again
> John 3:16
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